Infusion pump system of fluid for medical purposes

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an infusion pump system of fluid which can keep supplying a regular quantity of the fluid to the patient regardless of the position of the reservoir by applying pressure upon the reservoir. The infusion pump system of fluid according to the present invention comprises a flexible reservoir containing the fluid therein; a chamber having a squeezer therein which is in tight contact with an outer surface of the reservoir to apply pressure on the reservoir and spaced from an inner wall of the chamber; a storage containing air therein to be supplied to a space between the inner wall of the chamber and the squeezer; and a pressurizing plate movable back and forth in the storage by driving force of a motor to supply the air in the storage to the space between the inner wall of the chamber and the squeezer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an infusion pump system of fluid for medical purposes, and more particularly to an automatic infusion pump system of liquid fluid such as injection solution or nutrition solution, which enables a regular amount of the fluid to be supplied into the human body continuously by applying pressure upon a reservoir regardless of the position of the reservoir.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, solution infusion system or catheter has been used to continuously administer the fluid such as injection solution to the blood vessel, and conventionally this device comprises a reservoir in the form of a bottle or a vinyl bag filled with the fluid, a tube having its one end connected to the reservoir, and a needle connected to the other end of the tube.

The above solution infusion system is designed to deliver a predetermined fluid at a given rate to the blood vessel of a patient in need of the drug or nutrition solution, depending on the relation between the potential energy of the fluid and the pressure in the blood vessel. That is, if the pressure of supply of the solution is higher than the pressure in the blood vessel, the solution is injected into the blood vessel via a needle, and if the supply pressure of the solution is lower than the pressure of the blood vessel, regurgitation of the blood occurs via the needle.

Accordingly, when the solution is supplied to the patient by using the conventional infusion system, the reservoir has to be hung on a pole attached to a bed of the patient or on a wall so that the regurgitation can be prevented and the solution can normally be infused and that the reservoir can be positioned higher than the patient.

That is, in order to keep the reservoir of the liquid fluid at a higher position than the patient, the patient should lie on a bed or at least should lower its body.

On the contrary, when the patient is seated on a bed or moves to another place, it was a problem that the position of the reservoir becomes comparatively low, so that the solution cannot be supplied to the patient smoothly and regurgitation may occur.

Further, when the patient need stand to walk, the reservoir has to be hung on a separate pole for the easiness of transportation, so that the reservoir can be kept higher than the patient and the regurgitation can be prevented. In most cases, the patient should seek an aid from a nursing person to be supplied with the solution when he/she moves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an infusion pump system of fluid overcoming disadvantages and improving inconveniencies in the conventional infusion system of fluid.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an infusion pump system of fluid which can keep supplying a regular quantity of the fluid to the patient regardless of the position of the reservoir by applying pressure upon the reservoir.

In order to achieve the above objects, the infusion pump system of fluid according to the present invention comprises: a flexible reservoir containing the fluid therein; a chamber having a squeezer therein which is in tight contact with an outer surface of the reservoir to apply pressure on the reservoir and spaced from an inner wall of the chamber; a storage containing air therein to be supplied to a space between the inner wall of the chamber and the squeezer; and a pressurizing plate movable back and forth in the storage by driving force of a motor to supply the air in the storage to the space between the inner wall of the chamber and the squeezer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an infusion pump system of fluid according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged view of the present invention showing a rack (51) engaged with a pinion (41) of a motor (40); and

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 1 cut through the line A-A′.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, an infusion pump system of fluid according to the present invention comprises:

-   -   a flexible reservoir (10) containing the fluid therein;     -   a chamber (20) having a squeezer (21) therein which is in tight         contact with an outer surface of the reservoir (10) to apply         pressure on the reservoir (10) and spaced from an inner wall         (22) of the chamber (20);     -   a storage (30) containing air therein to be supplied to a space         between the inner wall (22) of the chamber (20) and the squeezer         (21); and     -   a pressurizing plate (50) movable back and forth in the storage         (30) by driving force of a rotary motor (40) to supply the air         in the storage (30) to the space between the inner wall (22) of         the chamber (20) and the squeezer (21).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a rack (51) is integrally formed with the pressurizing plate (50) on its one side. The rack (51) moves back and forth in the storage (30) as a pinion (41) which is engaged with the rack (51) rotates back and forth by the rotating force of the motor (40).

In using the infusion pump system of the present invention, the flexible reservoir (10) is firstly inserted into the chamber (20) to be in tight contact with the squeezer (21). Then, the rotary motor (40) is driven so that the pinion (41) can rotate toward one side of the storage (30) and consequently the rack (51) can move to the one side of the storage (30) by the rotating force of the motor (40).

At this time, the pressurizing plate (50) moves toward one side of the storage (30) along the movement of the rack (51) to deliver the air charged in the storage (30) to the space between the inner wall (22) of the chamber (20) and the squeezer (21).

The air delivered from the storage (30) to the space between the inner wall (22) of the chamber (20) and the squeezer (21) pushes the squeezer (21) inwards to pressurize the reservoir (10).

The solution filled in the reservoir (10) is pressurized and pushed inwards, and the pressure leads the solution to be infused into the blood vessel of the patient whether the position of the reservoir (10) is higher than the patient or not.

As shown in FIG. 3 which is the partial sectional view of FIG. 1 cut through the line A-A′, guiding grooves (31) can be provided on the inside walls of the storage (30) and guiding protrusions (52) can be provided on the pressurizing plate (50) to be engaged with the guiding grooves (31). Accordingly, the pressurizing plate (50) can move back and forth more smoothly along the guiding grooves (31) by the rotating force of the motor (40).

In addition, apertures (23) are provided on one side of the chamber (20) in contact with the storage (30). The apertures (23) allow the air charged in the storage (30) to be delivered to the space between the inner wall (22) of the chamber (20) and the squeezer (21) as the pressurizing plate (50) moves towards the chamber (20) in the storage (30), and also allow the air in the space to be discharged into the storage (30) as the pressurizing plate (50) moves away from the chamber (20) in the storage (30). When the air charged in the storage (30) is delivered to the space between the inner wall (22) of the chamber (20) and the squeezer (21), the reservoir (10) is pressurized by the air and the solution in the reservoir (10) can be supplied into the blood vessel of the patient.

Alternatively, instead of the air, fluid such as liquid solution or gas can be filled in the storage (30) to be delivered from and to the space between the inner wall (22) of the chamber (20) and the squeezer (21) according to the direction to which the pressurizing plate (50) moves.

According to the present invention, when the motor (40) is driven after the reservoir (10) is inserted into the chamber (20), the air charged in the storage (30) is transported to the chamber (20), and the squeezer (21) applies continuous and regular pressure upon the reservoir (10), and then a regular amount of the solution in the reservoir (10) can be supplied to the patient. Therefore, although the reservoir (10) is placed lower than the patient, a regular quantity of the solution in the reservoir (10) can be supplied to the patient without regurgitation of the blood. Thus, the remedial value of diseases of the patient can be improved and convenience in nursing patients can remarkably be enhanced.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention covers the modifications and variations thereof provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. An infusion pump system of fluid comprising: a flexible reservoir (10) containing the fluid therein; a chamber (20) having a squeezer (21) therein which is in tight contact with an outer surface of the reservoir (10) to apply pressure on the reservoir (10) and spaced from an inner wall (22) of the chamber (20); a storage (30) containing fluid therein to be supplied to a space between the inner wall (22) of the chamber (20) and the squeezer (21); and a pressurizing plate (50) movable back and forth in the storage (30) by driving force of a rotary motor (40) to supply the fluid in the storage (30) to the space between the inner wall (22) of the chamber (20) and the squeezer (21).
 2. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a rack (51) is integrally formed with the pressurizing plate (50) on its one side to move back and forth in the storage (30) as a pinion (41) engaged with the rack (51) rotates back and forth by the driving force of the motor (40).
 3. The infusion pump system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that air is filled in the storage (30) to be delivered from and to the space between the inner wall (22) of the chamber (20) and the squeezer (21) according to the direction to which the pressurizing plate (50) moves. 